Archive for the ‘Patient Advocacy’ Category

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that their group health benefits be maintained during the leave. Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles.

The U.S. Department of Labor website provides details on the law and what your rights are under the Family Medical Leave Act. You can find more information and a sample letter requesting time off under FMLA in the toolkit section of the PBCC insurance guidebook “Breast Cancer: Covered or Not?”.

Drs. Edith Mitchell, Hallgeir Rui and their team of multidisciplinary researchers

An ongoing research program, led by Edith Mitchell, M.D., FACP, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Clinical Oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson and Hallgeir Rui, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Cancer Biology, has initiated a new clinical trial at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University that offers a more customized and personalized approach to the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. The trial, with lead investigators Drs. Tiffany Avery in the Department of Medical Oncology and Adam Berger in the Department of Surgery, offers treatment in the form of chemotherapy paired with a supplemental medication called a “Parp Inhibitor” and is designed to target the breast cancer cells to increase response to treatment and decrease the risk of recurrence. Researchers will conduct a randomized two-arm trial in 12-week cycles by administering different types of medicines in addition to chemotherapy.

Triple-negative breast cancer cells lack estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors, and do not have an excess of the HER2 protein on their surfaces. This type of breast cancer diagnosis is more prevalent in younger women and in African-American women. Triple-negative breast cancers tend to grow faster and more aggressively and spread to other parts of the body more quicker than most other types of breast cancer. Drs. Mitchell and Rui and their team of researchers are hoping to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment for triple-negative breast cancer through this clinical trial.

Dr. Edith Mitchell speaks with a patient at the Kimmel Cancer Center.

Clinical Trial Details:

An adaptive randomized Phase II Trial to determine pathologic complete response with the addition of carboplatin with and without veliparib to standard chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of triple-negative breast cancerStudy Design: This is a randomized two-arm trial for the neoadjuvant treatment of triple breast cancer patients. The two arms for the trial are as follows:

1. Paclitaxel and carboplatin (12 weekly cycles) with growth factor support followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (4 cycles every 3 weeks) with growth factor support.

The primary objective of the study is to compare the pathologic complete response in patients with triple negative breast cancer treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin or paclitaxel, carboplatin, and veliparib in addition to standard

Click on the video below for more details on this clinical trial.

Angel Bus is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing FREE non-emergency, long-distance ground transportation to financially stressed ambulatory patients who are traveling for treatment. A typical Angel Bus trip is 70 – 250 miles (one-way). Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for cancer patients traveling daily for treatment. Here’s how Angel Bus can help…

Angel Bus provides help with transportation in these ways:Gas Cards are provided to help offset fuel cost for patients
-Gas cards from major companies are mailed to patients

Commercial ground transportation (Amtrak, Greyhound, etc.)
-Tickets to be picked up at Will Call. With ample lead time, tickets can be mailed.

Volunteer drivers
– Angel Bus has a limited number of drivers throughout the continental US.

To be eligible, you must have:
-Scheduled medical appointment
-Clearance by physician to travel
-Verifiable financial need
All services provided by Angel Bus are free to clients. A Trip Request can also be completed online at http://www.angel-bus.org/request-form

If you are currently in treatment for breast cancer, and having difficulty keeping up with rent and utility bills, there is help available! Breast Cancer Charities of America offers up to $500 on a one-time basis per patient through its Help Now Fund. You will need to complete an application together with your medical personnel or social worker, and submit it between the 1st and 7th of the month.

Here’s how it works…

~ Applications sent directly from the patient will not be accepted.

~ If approved, Breast Cancer Charities of America will call the medical personnel by the 15th of the month, and checks will be made payable to the rental or utility company and mailed to you for review.

~ To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen in active treatment for breast cancer and provide documentation of past-due rent and/or utilities.

When it comes to donating your money or time to a charity of choice, do you ever wonder – what’s in it for you? According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal by Arthur Brooks, studies show that donors to charity are happier, healthier and handsome than those who choose not to give.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that happiness and generosity go hand-in-hand. Charitable givers are 43% more likely to say they are “very happy” when compared to nongivers. The same goes for volunteering to nonprofits. Scientists at the University of Buffalo studied hundreds of volunteers, finding that their charity work significantly lowered the association between stressful life events and death.

Dutch and British researchers surveyed students, showing them one of three videos featuring a handsome actor. Those who saw the video of that actor donating to charity, the more good-looking he appeared.

According to the study, you can’t afford not to give, whether it’s a monetary donation or the donation of your time. Take some time to support the causes you’re passionate about this holiday season. You’ll be better off for it.

When faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, friends or family members might ask – “How Can I Help?” Often they offer to provide that help by cooking dinner during treatment, but it’s tough to figure out who’s bringing what and when they’re bringing it! That’s where Meal Train comes in. It’s a free Web site that organizes meals for friends or loved ones in need.Here’s how it works…

MealTrain.com allows anyone to set up a free meal calendar. In the calendar, you can log on, choose a day of the week during which you would like to make a meal. Each participant then chooses that day, writes what meal they will be bringing so other members of the Meal Train don’t bring the same thing. How many lasagnas can you eat in one week anyway? Meal Train also lets you type in the survivor’s address, their favorite meals, a preferred drop-off time and any allergies their family members might have. Friends who choose to help in other ways may opt to pass on cooking a meal and send the patient flowers or donations instead. For more information on Meal Train, click here.

Livestrong offers FREE 12-week, small group fitness programs at various YMCAs around the country aimed at helping cancer survivors in the transitional period between completion of treatment and the shift to feeling physically and emotionally strong enough to return to a “new normal.” Instructors work to fit the program to each participant’s individual needs.

In Pennsylvania, the program is offered at the following four Y’s:

Indian Valley Family YMCA in Harleysville (215-723-3569)

Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County in Secane (610-544-1080 ext. 220)

YMCA of York and York County, Southern Branch at Shrewsbury (717-235-0446)

Cancer clinical trials provide patients at all stages of cancer with the most cutting-edge medical treatment and the highest level of care. The nonprofit organization Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups offers services and education about clinical trials for healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers and advocates. Interested in finding a clinical trial near you?
The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups Web site has a screening questionnaire to complete and find relevant clinical trials near you, or you can call toll-free 1-877-227-8451 to talk with a cancer clinical trial specialist.